A League of Ireland player has failed a drugs test for a banned substance, believed to be cocaine.

Following the positive reading from the random test taken after a match last month, the player has not featured recently and a hefty sanction is expected.

The FAI were unavailable for a comment last night.

Former goalkeeper Barry Ryan is the only known player from the League to have tested positive for cocaine. He was hit with a 15-month ban in 2003, later reduced to nine months on appeal.

In 2012, Shane Grimes was given an eight-month suspension following a positive test for methylhexaneamine, otherwise known as MHA.

The Irish Sports Council, the body responsible for testing, acknowledged that Grimes had made a mistake by consuming the stimulant in an energy drink called 'Jack3d'.

Meanwhile, League of Ireland champions Dundalk have tied down promising midfielder John Mountney for next season.

Elsewhere, Shamrock Rovers' Tallaght Stadium home is on course to expand to a 8,500-capacity venue in 2017 after South Dublin County Council allocated a further €250,000 towards the construction of a third stand.

Architects are exploring designs for a new 2,500 stand that will be added to the facility where Rovers are the anchor tenants.